Art and illustration are some of my favorite topics to learn more about. I am sure you have guessed that based on some of the conversations on Creator’s Roulette. I have Ellinor Sutt with me today and we are talking about illustrations, drawing and pursuing our passions while being a mom, something I will have to learn eventually! Get ready to feast your eyes on some amazing work! 🙂 Don’t forget to check out the instagram embeds in this post – they are videos on how the illustration was created.
Welcome to The Creator’s Roulette, Ellinor! What is your first memory of art?
Thank you! Thanks for having me!
My first memory of art… It’s always been around actually! My parents are interested in art and painting as a hobby, so that’s where it started! I’ve always loved drawing, and my sisters and I used to color for hours and hours. But honestly, I wasn’t that interested in *art* when I was younger. I loved drawing and I loved comics and animated movies, but I didn’t equal that to art when I was a child.
My interest for art began when I discovered the art of Brian Froud and Alan Lee. That’s when I realized that illustrations are art, and people actually work with drawing and creating these fantastical creatures. Then I went on to discover the classics and fell in love with renaissance, rokoko, art nouveau and impressionism. Now I can’t get enough and as often as I can I visit art museums to see as much as I possibly can.
You post amazing illustrations on your Instagram. What got you into illustrating? Is it a hobby or do you do commissions?
Thank you so much! Funnily enough I remember the exact moment when I started to draw for myself. When I started creating illustrations instead of just filling out coloring books. It was the 25th of December 2001, at 11.15 pm, and I had just come home from watching the Lord of the Rings at the cinema. I had to draw, it was a feeling I had never experienced before. I rushed into my room and started drawing elves and hobbits, and then fairies and fairytales and on and on it went. I fell asleep with my sketchbook and pencils still in my bed. It sparked a creative joy in me that was completely new to my 11-year-old self. I still have that sketchbook in my office to remind myself what it is to just draw. I only drew for fun until I was 19, and then I applied to art school and studied first in London, and then in Gothenburg. I studied art for three years and then 3D animation. Art is both a hobby and a job in that sense. I work as a graphic designer, but i do commissions as well. I’m not actively advertising that right now, but commissions are always open and if when I get requests I rarely turn them down. (unless it is a subject I am not comfortable with or I simply do not have the time.
You clearly love painting fantastical creatures. Tell us more about your love for Fantasy.
I have always loved fantasy. Before Lord of the Rings there was Harry Potter, the Song of the Lioness, Narnia and hundreds of books that I have probably forgotten about. Books are a huge inspiration to me, and most of the books I read are fantasy. It is the ultimate escape from reality, isn’t it? When I read or paint I want to leave this world for someplace… better? Someplace where dragons and magic exist and where good always triumphs in the end. Realism isn’t in my nature, as I’ve always been a daydreamer with my head stuck in the clouds. My sister used to sing “With a dreamy far-off look, and her nose stuck in a book” from beauty and the beast at me when we were younger, and it sums me up quite well.
What kind of tools do you use for your illustrations?
At the moment I mostly use my iPad pro and Apple Pen. I love working with watercolors and gouache. Of course, I have my sketchbook as well to experiment and be messy in. A sketchbook is probably the most important tool you have as an artist.
If someone wanted to do more art, what would be your tips for them?
The most important thing is to draw. It doesn’t have to be good. Throw that thought out immediately. A lot of the things that you draw won’t be good, but all of it is useful. Aim to find 15 minutes a day to sketch. It doesn’t sound like much, and you probably think that 15 minutes won’t make a difference, but trust me it does. Use references (it is not cheating), avoid tracing (it won’t train your eye). Try out different mediums if you can. If you’re feeling uninspired search “Ways to fill a sketchbook” on YouTube. It doesn’t really matter what you draw so much at that you draw. If you are like me, set deadlines for yourself. I started drawing daily when I challenged myself to post on Instagram every day for a year. I posted everything from doodles to illustrations. Remember that drawing is sometimes really boring, but you’ve got to do it anyway! When it is boring it is usually a sign that your brain is now better than your hands, if that makes sense. Your brain catches all the mistakes that you are doing and sees what needs to be improved, but your hands haven’t caught up yet. Keep at it! It will be fun again.
You have kids! How have you been able to keep up being creative with them and what are some creative things you do together?
I do! I have a daughter who is almost 2.5 years old. We do a lot of creative things together! Like most toddlers she loves being creative, so we draw and bake and make up stories. I always make sure to go past the craft section when we are at the store to pick up something new. We always have glitter glue and markers at home, but as she grows there are more and more things for us to try.
Before I had kids, I was quite the procrastinator. I could watch Netflix or play videogames all day long and then moan because I didn’t have the time to paint. Looking back, I want to shake myself. I had so much time? But now I work with deadlines and a fairly strict schedule haha. I have also had to streamline my process. I love working with traditional mediums, primarily watercolors, but a watercolor illustration takes 6-12 hours of fairly intense work, and it is difficult to take breaks. With a toddler that isn’t realistic. So, I have invested in an Ipad pro, apple pen and Procreate. A digital illustration still takes several hours, but it is much easier to take breaks and you can work wherever. When I was on maternity leave I painted whenever my daughter slept, and now that I am back at work paint on my commute and in the evenings. My main advice for other creative parents is to prioritize and discuss solutions with your partner. I don’t play video games as much anymore for instance. I still do when I want to relax but when my daughter falls asleep around 7.30 I ask myself: “Okay. Draw or something else?” Most nights I draw. Maybe just for 15 minutes in case my energy is low, but draw wins 99% of the time.
What would be your advice to someone like me who worries about having the time to pursue passions with kids?
First of all, I completely understand that worry, I shared it, and still do to some extent. It is harder, but in many ways, I have become more productive and dedicated to my creative pursuits now, simply because I have time restrictions which I didn’t have before. It’s about prioritizing, planning and setting realistic goals for yourself. As long as I draw I count the day as a success from a creativity point of view. If I finish an illustration, awesome! Setting realistic goals extends to housework as well. When the kids fall asleep, do I draw or do I take care of the dishes right away? That is up to you, and what you feel you can let go of. Personally, I don’t mind clutter as long as the kitchen is tidy. My house could never be described as spotless, but I get to be creative, so I feel that is a fair trade. If you can, find sometime in the week where you can be by yourself. Maybe your partner takes care of the bedtime alone once or twice a week, or you can have a set time during the weekends where you can be by yourself to be creative.
I found that when my daughter was a baby I could still draw and paint quite a lot. Babies sleep. A lot. Even when they are awake their main wish is to be close to you. So, she slept in a wrap and I could (with some practice) still draw with her in my lap. When she got older her sleep schedule was easier to predict so I planned to draw when she napped or went to sleep for the night. And now, when she is a bit older still, she understands what I’m doing when I’m drawing. Often, she joins me with her crayons, sometimes I draw when she is relaxing with a cartoon. It’s 20 minutes here and there, but every little bit counts. On days when you feel you haven’t reached your goals or you feel drained, remember that as long as you try it is a success. You need to take care of yourself and give yourself a break. Sometimes babies stay awake all night, or have fevers or they are teething and if you are feeling tired and drained, don’t push yourself. Personally, I hate feeling unproductive so I have had to learn to forgive myself for days when I just need to disappear into the couch with Netflix.
How you do balance your hobbies, work and family commitments?
I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Ellie and loved her work as much as I do. Go follow her on Instagram and make your feed even more magical!
All images used in this post are done by Ellinor!
Thanks for sharing
I love your Creator Roulette series, Kriti. 🙂 Look forward to more such interviews.
Thank you! I am so glad you enjoy them! 🙂